The best traffic-free bike rides around Eijsden-Margraten

Very nice walk, sometimes challenging, beautiful views

Muddy after a heavy rain shower.

Stop and admire the views. Some spots look like they're straight out of a nature photo album.

The Brigida Church is situated on a bend in the main road to Mheer. Opposite the east side lies the village square, and to the left is a road leading to the Voerstreek region. The church is situated on a hill, supported by a marlstone retaining wall. A cemetery surrounds the church, and in front of it on the east side is the Brigida Chapel, dedicated to devotion to this saint. The church is a three-aisled basilica, begun in Romanesque style but rebuilt in phases in Gothic style. It is one of the few village churches in South Limburg that has preserved some of its medieval atmosphere and its main features from the 15th century. According to the parish archives, the St. Brigida Church was a branch church of the parish church in 's Gravenvoeren (Belgium) until 1614. This church, which in turn was a separation from the church of St. Martin's Voeren, was donated to the Our Lady Minster of Luxembourg City in 1083 by Conrad I of Luxembourg, lord of the land of Daehlem. Originally, the parish also included Mheer, which separated in 1626. From 1616 until the order's dissolution in 1773, the Jesuits of Maastricht held the right of collation of the church and the right of tithing, which they had inherited from the Our Lady Minster in Luxembourg. It is known that the church was plundered by soldiers of William of Orange in 1568. Source: The Dutch Monuments of History and Art. The Province of Limburg / South Limburg. Third installment: Margraten, Mheer and Noorbeek, A.G. Schulte - National Heritage Agency, Zeist and Waanders Publishers, Zwolle, 1991. ISBN 90-6630-248-8. On February 3, 2021, a fire broke out, causing extensive damage to the sacristy, the chancel, and the organ. Source and more information: https://www.kerkgebouwen-in-limburg.nl/kerken/noorbeek/brigida

Roman Catholic church, dedicated to Saint Brigid. Three-aisled basilica nave with Meuse capitals, 13th-15th century, west tower, 13th-15th century, three-sided closed choir, 15th century, sacristy, 1780, and portal, 1841, with baptismal chapel. Restored 1911-13: high altar, 1768. Remains of wall paintings in the north aisle. In the churchyard are 25 stone grave crosses, 1608-1765. The churchyard is enclosed by a marl wall. Organ with main work and subpositive, made in 1851 by W. Koulen. Bell frame with chime consisting of a bell by J. Hoerken, 1449, diameter 106 cm, and a modern bell. Source and more information: https://www.kerkgebouwen-in-limburg.nl/kerken/noorbeek/brigida

Schin op Geul is a picturesque church village in the municipality of Valkenburg aan de Geul in the south of the Dutch province of Limburg. The village lies in the picturesque Geul Valley, surrounded by rolling hills, slopes, and forests typical of the South Limburg landscape and popular with hikers, cyclists, and nature lovers. Schin op Geul's existence goes back a long way, and its name was already mentioned in donation documents from the 9th century (847, 968) in favor of the Abbey of St. Remigius in Reims and the Provostry in Meerssen, making the village one of the oldest written records in the present-day Valkenburg aan de Geul region. The village itself has a typical South Limburg character with a historic center and a rural atmosphere. One of the most famous buildings is the Sint-Mauritiuskerkbeen church, which has a long history and stands high on a slope and is part of the local religious and cultural-historical identity of the village. Schin op Geul is located on the Maastricht–Heerlen railway line, with its own station dating from 1913. It now serves both regular local trains and the Zuid-Limburgse Stoomtrein Maatschappij (South Limburg Steam Train Company), which offers tourist trips on a nostalgic steam locomotive to Simpelveld. The area surrounding Schin op Geul is particularly attractive for active visitors. The village is a great starting point for walks and bike rides through the hilly landscape, including routes along the Geul River and to nearby nature reserves like the Gerendaln, known for its dry valleys, orchids, and tranquility. Schin op Geul is also a popular destination for cyclists, as the famous Keutenberg climb from the Amstel Gold Race begins right in the village. This climb is one of the steepest in the Netherlands, with sections of up to approximately 22% gradient, making the village an icon in the cycling world. Furthermore, in and around Schin op Geul you'll find restaurants, bed and breakfasts, bungalow parks, campsites, and charming terraces along the Geul River, making the village a perfect holiday destination for guests who want to enjoy the tranquility of nature and Limburg hospitality. From Schin op Geul, you can also take historical walks, such as routes that take you along old paths, streams, and meadows with views of highlights like the Daolkesberg and the slopes of the Geul Valley.

An impressive railway viaduct, which is also part of the nativity scene in the church of St. Martens-Voeren. It's a must-see during the Christmas season.

Valkenburg has been one of the Netherlands' most important holiday destinations since around 1840, and tourism is the municipality's main source of income. This has much to do with the medieval town's picturesque location, but the extensive labyrinths of underground quarries also played an important role from the very beginning. However, the original idea of using the caves for air cures never came to fruition.